The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when performing kennel attendant duties at race meetings

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient performance of kennel attendant race meeting duties

working with others to undertake and complete race meeting procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of greyhounds of different ages, sexes and temperaments, and at different stages of preparation in race meeting environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

a variety of greyhounds and handlers

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform the duties of a kennel attendant at race meetings

safe handling areas, such as racetracks with racing authority approved kennels and associated facilities

work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks.

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

RGRPSG201A Handle greyhounds.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds

communicating with stewards, racing officials, and licensed and registered personnel using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to kennel attendant duties

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

complying with OHS and animal welfare legislation

complying with race day procedures and relevant rules of racing

escorting greyhound and handler to and from kennel so that they remain in sight at all times

following directions of racing officials and stewards

identifying common signs and symptoms of distressed or injured greyhounds

identifying greyhounds using approved greyhound signalment

locating allocated kennels

observing greyhound and handler during kennelling for compliance with kennelling procedures and other racing protocols

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

securing kennel in line with security procedures

verifying kennel allocation procedure for particular race meeting.

Required knowledge

basic industry terminology related to greyhound racing procedures

communication procedures within the kennel and wider racing industry

layout of approved race meeting kennel complex

procedures for conduct of pre and post-race kennelling

race meeting procedures and protocols

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

rules of racing for greyhounds, including state and local variations relating to kennelling and pre and post-race procedures and animal welfare

signals and symptoms of injured, distressed or sick greyhounds

time management for completion of work tasks

written and verbal report formats and protocols for reporting non-compliance issues to supervisor and stewards.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to assess the skills required to perform the duties of kennel attendant at race meetings. Workplaces include greyhound kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Rules of racing will include:

Australian and local rules of racing.

Responsibilities of kennel staff will include:

advising supervisor and stewards of incidents or non-compliance issues

allocating kennels according to race club policy

complying with the rules of racing

escorting greyhound and handler to kennel and ensuring handler complies with kennelling protocols and procedures

ensuring that kennels are locked securely

ensuring that no-one accesses greyhounds without supervisor or steward permission

ensuring approved visitors are escorted to and from kennel and that visitors' actions are observed and non-compliant practices are stopped and reported to supervisor

escorting greyhound handlers to kennels prior to race marshalling and supervising their actions

ensuring greyhounds and handlers are observed during stir-up and empty-out procedures

following racing authority protocols and procedures.

Security of kennels may include:

kennels are cleaned and inspected to ensure no foreign matter or materials are present prior to kennelling

kennels and race kennel section gates are locked prior to commencement of kennelling

kennels are allocated to greyhounds by kennel staff under the supervision of stewards

kennels are unlocked, then re-locked as each greyhound is put into a kennel prior to racing

race kennel section is locked after all greyhounds have been kennelled and a seal is attached to kennel section lock to prevent and indicate tampering

all greyhounds and handlers must be escorted to their kennel by kennel staff

kennel design prevents contact with greyhounds and individual kennel area

separate kennels are kept for greyhounds selected for swabbing

swab kennels have seals as well as locks on section and kennel gates.

OHS and racing safety protocols and procedures may include:

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare

adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue

considering variables that influence behaviour of greyhounds, such as:

fences and equipment

lure, wind and noise

other persons or animals

vehicles

contributing to development of risk control measures

following safe work practices

identifying and reporting unsafe work practices

identifying emergency situations

understanding individual greyhound behaviour

using approved gear or equipment

wearing approved personal protective equipment.

Identification of greyhounds may include:

coat colour and markings

ear brand

race rug colour and number

racing registration certificate.

Approval sought for non-scheduled visit to kennels will be from:

kennel supervisor

stewards.

Signs of general wellbeing of greyhounds will include:

types of behaviour indicating general characteristics of a healthy animal that is not distressed by its environment, including:

greyhounds are interested in their surrounding

greyhounds don't bark excessively or without cause

greyhounds rest quietly in their kennel unless reacting to outside stimulus

greyhounds don't pant excessively

greyhounds don't limp or favour a limb or other part of their anatomy

greyhounds don't destroy their bedding or self-mutilate.